GREENOCK MORTON welcomed Raith Rovers to Cappielow looking to notch their first win of the season, despite being unbeaten in the league so far this year.
Standing opposite them was a wounded Raith Rovers outfit who lost their unbeaten run–which was the longest in the Scottish league system, stretching back to last season–to Partick Thistle the week prior.
Despite their defeat at Firhill, the fifers were in decent shape and have been touted as promotion candidates, with Dylan Easton leading the way.
The talismanic figure carved out the first opportunity of the game after a low cross from the right fell to him at the edge of the box, and although the attacker caught it well, the awkward height of the strike meant James Storer was able to comfortably gather.
Easton would see another opportunity to strike at goal soon after, but his free-kick was straight down the throat of Storer, before Nathan Shaw’s set-piece forced Josh Rae at the other end into action stretching fully to deny the winger.
And that would be all either side could muster in a cagey first-half, but it wouldn’t take long for the second period to provide more action.
After 52 minutes of play, Josh Rae went ‘route one’ and fired the ball over the head of Kris Moore for Easton, who nodded the ball over the onrushing Storer to put Rovers 1-0 up.
in what was a theme throughout the game, both teams continued to threaten from corners and set-pieces, the most notable of which came from Cameron Blues not long after the Ton went down 1-0, as the midfielder flicked the ball on at the front post with no one at the back to tap in to an empty net.
But the dynamic of the game would shift after 77 minutes, as Josh Mullin saw red.
Morton sub, Michael Garrity, had looked bright since coming on, and the over eager wing back came careering into a sliding challenge, catching Garrity, and was given his marching orders.
Despite the man advantage, Imrie’s men still struggled to create from open play, with their main threat still coming corners.
But it would pay dividends in the closing exchanges, as an inswinging Garrity corner found Longridge at the back post to nod home and equalise.
But the joy would be short lived, as referee Lloyd Wilson, blew for a free-kick to Raith.
Wilson reportedly blew for a foul on Rae at the time, but footage showed the goalkeeper was not impeded.
However, Grant Gillespie was in an offside position and could be judged to have impacted the keeper’s actions.
The Ton continued to put pressure on Barry Robson’s side, but were unable to come up with the goods, as Raith Rovers left Cappielow with three points and a lucky escape.
With no wins in their opening five games and a perilous position in the table, Morton face a trip to Glasgow’s Southside at the weekend to face an equally shaky Queen’s Park side also yet to notch their first win of the season.
Something has to give as half of the league are yet to win a game and two points separate sixth from tenth, with the Ton on top of that mini league having played a game more than all but Ross County.
